Walla Walla had a past before wine

It's stories of people of present and past -- history and what people contributed through their daily lives -- that really are factors that made Walla Walla the hometown it is today.

I am sick and tired of reading advertisements of this being a wine Valley and activities where wine is involved are what makes Walla Walla the city it is today.

Ninety years ago I was born in Walla Walla and raised by wonderful parents. They were active in local activities. It was a town for families, and still is, to raise children and prepare for the future.

Five years ago, on a Sunday morning, I chose to drive down Main Street to see "Good Old Walla Walla."

When we were raising our family in Walla Walla, it was a busy time of life. Sunday morning I could find a parking spot, take a walk down Main Street and see just what the stores had to offer. There was always sales at Penney's, Bee Hive, Sporledors, Newberrys and all the hometown displays. Just to see the store windows would be great.

I told my husband, Bob, what I was going to do and I would be back in an hour.

I decided to find a parking spot on the corner of Main and Palouse streets and head west. No parking spot! It would be a nice walk down to the Courthouse and back. It was Sunday morning and people would be in church. I was so wrong. Folks were in and out of stores holding cups of samples of something and nibbling on tidbits.

This was not what I remembered about Sunday mornings.

I found no parking spot as I crept along the road west. By the time I reached the Courthouse I was shedding tears. I found a parking spot and had my cry. This was not the Walla Walla I remembered.

I appreciate the editors and writers of today's Union-Bulletin. They are telling the true stories of what has made Walla Walla a wonderful city and the facts about the lives of people who contributed to Walla Walla.